Conference expansion: Who could the Big Ten being adding next?
The Big Ten might be adding more programs, with recent reports suggesting that Oregon and Washington could well be on their way to making major moves as part of the conference expansion puzzle. The Big Ten most recently added members in 2014 when Maryland and Rutgers officially joined the conference.
Next year, UCLA and USC are set to enter the Big Ten.
And with the news on Tuesday that the Big Ten has vetted Oregon and Washington, it might not be too long until the conference poaches some other programs.
With the two new additions next year, the Big Ten will be at 16 programs. And if Oregon and Washington are next in line, they could be at 18 teams sooner rather than later.
Which means that the Big Ten could be set to expand to two more teams. That number 20 sounds nice and could help with cross-continental travel and maintaining/expanding rivalries.
Oh, and also television dollars which, of course, drive this whole thing.
Now the Big Ten has been adamant in that incoming members are AAU institutions, the gold standard for research schools. And they want athletic success or at the very least the capability to do so. Football and basketball drive this whole shift…why? Because that’s what leads to television viewers.
So being in a large media market is also a huge selling point for an expansion candidate.
An offer for Rutgers fans
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So who could be next on the list to join the Big Ten? The obvious answer is Notre Dame, but with recent signals that they will extend their deal with NBC, a move to the Big Ten might not be happening anytime soon. The Big Ten would love to add Notre Dame, but they’re not on this list right now as it appears they aren’t moving from their weird marriage with the ACC.
So who else could be primed for a move? Scroll down and take a look at 10 Big Ten expansion candidates with one or two offbeat choices included!
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10. Vanderbilt
This one seems like a headscratcher at first, but a compelling argument could be made for Vanderbilt to leave the SEC and join the Big Ten.
First off, Vanderbilt is an unusual fit in the conference and doesn’t have a true rival, meaning that a clean break doesn’t hurt any deep ties. Academically, the school fits well with the Big Ten profile as an AAL member institution.
Factor in the Big Ten’s television deal and the fact that there is more money available to Vanderbilt with a conference move means they could chase the money.
Vanderbilt adds a sizable television market (No. 29 in the nation and extends into Kentucky). Men’s basketball has made the NCAA Tournament eight times since 2000 (no appearances since 2017, though).
Vanderbilt would also help the conference in baseball (currently 35-16) where they are seventh in the nation in RPI.
A longshot for sure, but adding a good television market and expanding into the South a bit might intrigue the powers that be at the Big Ten.
This one doesn’t necessarily work because Boston College is not an AAU member. But, as an option, it is one that, like Vanderbilt, is worth considering.
In terms of profile fit, Boston College would not be an immediate help in football (they lost their season opener in 2022 to Rutgers) but the potential is there for the school to be a good fit in the Big Ten. Were the AAU hurdle taken out of the equation, Boston College fits in terms of academics, television market (seventh nationally) and a number of Olympic sports (including men’s hockey, women’s lacrosse).
8. Kansas
There is a lot to like about Kansas and the potential fit with the Big Ten. An AAU member, Kansas showed this past year that they can be a force in football and men’s basketball. Plus, the Kansas City television market is a sizable one.
Geographically, Kansas fits the blueprint and the model quite well. The Big Ten would be a jump up in football and a push in men’s basketball.
7. University of California, Berkeley
In the desirable San Francisco television market, Cal is an outstanding academic school. In terms of the money maker sports, that’s about it.
Since 2010, Cal has made four bowl games and men’s basketball hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2017. But they deliver on the academic front, their television market and with their Olympic sports.
If football can be viable along with men’s basketball, this could be a prime addition for the Big Ten.
6. Colorado
The placement for Colorado, admittedly, is largely due to the impact of head coach Deion Sanders and the potential for the football program to take off.
Colorado hits a couple of key points for a Big Ten expansion candidate from AAU membership to a sizable and desirable television market. They would also renew their rivalry with Nebraska as an in-conference opponent on an annual basis.
Lots to like here and the fact that men’s basketball made the NCAA Tournament in 2021 is a nice selling point as well.
5. Arizona
AAU membership status? Check. Multiple television markets including Phoenix? Check. A strong history in the money maker sports? Check.
Arizona isn’t generating as much buzz as Oregon and Washington but they could and should be viable Big Ten expansion candidates. The television market picture is underappreciated with both Phoenix and Tucson.
Football has struggled but has the potential to take off. Basketball is a national powerhouse and there is the potential for the Olympic sports to fit in nicely within the Big Ten.
If the Big Ten is looking to add another team out West, then Arizona is the next logical choice. In fact, the argument can be made that they stand toe-to-toe with Oregon and Washington.
4. Stanford
Stanford has an intriguing resume for the Big Ten. It also has a lot of question marks.
Stanford, like Cal Berkeley, brings the desired AAU status along with the Bay Area market. But there are questions here about the sports that push the conversation (football and men’s basketball) where the success has been limited as of late.
Wrestling has had some recent success but the lack of success on the gridiron hurts Stanford a bit.
So why are they so high up the list? Much like when Rutgers was added for their location, Stanford brings a top 10 television market. Factor in their name recognition and Stanford makes a lot of sense.
3. Virginia
If the Big Ten wanted to create a stronger East Coast dynamic, then looking at Virginia is a way to do it.
This would be a geographic rivalry for Maryland, Penn State and even Rutgers. There is some reason to believe that football can become a consistent bowl team again and men’s basketball is a well-known quantity. Add in some strength in the Olympic sports (soccer, lacrosse, wrestling and baseball) and Virginia adds up on the field.
And don’t forget that it is an outstanding school. And yes, it is an AAU institution.
Now off the field, their resume needs some clarifying. They don’t bring a huge television market but the state as a whole is sizable. This shouldn’t be a factor in their candidacy.
If the Big Ten wants to add a national brand, this is the way to do it. North Carolina has emerged as a consistent bowl team under Mack Brown and is recruiting at a high level.
Then there is the fact that they are a blueblood in basketball and succesful in nearly every other sports. This is an institution with a strong academic tone that succeeds on the field as well.
North Carolina is a growing state and in terms of television markets, brings several good, solid markets as a potential dance partner. That men’s basketball is a national brand only makes sense.
1. Oregon and Washington...and Notre Dame
OK, so this seems a bit like cheating as these two programs seem like the front runners. But both check off nearly every box from AAU to television markets to football (and a lesser extent, basketball as well). These are good, solid additions to the Big Ten down the road.
And yes, we said that Notre Dame won’t be on this list. But somehow if the Fighting Irish agree that their best interest is to be aligned with a conference, then the Big Ten makes too much sense.
